Department for Transport

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the risks posed to the UK by terrorists using drones, and the recent comments by the British Airline Pilots Association and others regarding the risks posed by drones, what consideration they have given to (1) the introduction of a system of mandatory drone registration in the UK, (2) the introduction of mandatory geo-fencing by all drone manufacturers, and (3) the possible banning of private ownership of drones exceeding a certain payload capacity.

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they will take to reduce the risk posed by civilian drones to aircraft.

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Cross Government Working Group on Drones has conducted an assessment of the risks posed (1) by terrorists using drones, and (2) by drones to aircraft.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop consistent, EU-wide safety rules for drones. The Department and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) work with a wide range of industry partners across the aviation sector, (including manufacturers, airports, and airlines), to ensure our understanding of potential hazards to aircraft remains up-to-date and mitigations effective. This collaboration is also considering the need for other potential drone policies, such as geo-fencing. There are a number of drone models already sold in the UK with types of this technology installed and we are assessing the potential for solutions that could restrict drone operations around airports and other key infrastructure. We are also in contact with other governments about the potential costs and benefits of registration systems, and, in particular, whether this improves the transparency of ownership. The Cross Government Working Group has undertaken analysis of the use of drones for criminal purposes, including the potential use of drones for terrorist purposes, and the impacts of their negligent use near sensitive locations, such as airports. This work is kept under review and is being used to inform research and testing to improve mitigation techniques and strategies. Guidance on tackling the risks of criminal drone use has been provided to constabularies across the UK. Education of drone users is vital. The DfT is working with the CAA on raising awareness of responsible drone use. This includes the CAA’s ‘Drone Code’ safety awareness campaign and the issuing of safety leaflets at the point of sale.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 March (HL6266), what improvements Govia Thameslink Railway have implemented since the commencement of their franchise.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have implemented numerous improvements since the commencement of their franchise. These include, but are not limited to: Extension of smart ticketing functionality meaning that ‘the Key’ smartcard is now available at an additional 80 stations, taking the total number of stations to 220;Oyster PAYG and CPAY has been extended to Gatwick Airport station;An increase in overnight services serving Luton Airport Parkway station;An increased number of Rail Enforcement Officers, with an additional 19 officers;An increase in customer information screens;A single source of customer information across website, app and stations;Access to radio microphones for all platform staff to improve information provision at stations;First to last staffing at an additional 25 Great Northern and Thameslink stations;Ordered new trains comprising 150 vehicles for the Great Northern Moorgate route to replace rolling stock from the 1970s;Services on the Moorgate branch in the evenings and at weekends;iPads for customer facing staff to improve information provision;24 hour Twitter team;  In addition, the following key improvements are on course to be delivered by Govia Thameslink Railway in the coming months: Introduction of a new fleet of trains for the Gatwick Express – the first of which went into passenger service on 29 Feb;New state of the art Class 700 trains will start to be introduced across the GTR network from the spring;WiFi at 104 stations. More details on the committed obligations and improvements GTR are contracted to deliver can be found in the Franchise Agreement which is available at the government website.

Railways: Franchises

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 March (HL6235), what assessment they have made of whether a procurement process where there are only two genuine bidders complies with the EU rules and procedures for public contracts, which state that a minimum of three bids are required, and whether they have sought from the EU a derogation from that rule.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Rail franchising competitions are governed by Regulation 1370/2007 and not the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Therefore, although the Department fully applies the EU treaty principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination, it is not obliged to follow the processes and procedures set out in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Where a competition is to be held, Regulation 1370/2007 requires a fair competitive procedure, but does not stipulate the minimum number of bidders that is required to evidence this.

Cabinet Office

Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections

Lord Wasserman: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 23 February (HL5871), whether the activities of Police and Crime Commissioners themselves are subject to a purdah period, and if so, when that period begins in relation to the elections in May.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The pre-election restrictions for Police and Crime Commissioners are governed by Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986, as amended in 1988. It is permissible for a Police and Crime Commissioner to campaign individually on a political basis, but without recourse to the resources of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity would also apply in these circumstances and covers the full range of Local Authorities (including Police and Crime Commissioners and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime). The purdah period for Police and Crime Commissioners and their offices, like other Local Authorities, begins with the publication of the notice of election by the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO), which must happen no later than the 25th day before the day of the election, but can be issued at any point before then. PAROs are responsible for deciding on the date on which they will issue the notice of election – they may issue individually, or simultaneously.

Freedom of Information

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows publicly funded bodies that are individually bound by that Act to form what is described as a private institution that is claimed to be exempt from that Act, and if so, in which clause or clauses.

Lord Bridges of Headley: Public authorities subject to the Act are listed in Schedule 1, and companies wholly owned by the public sector are automatically covered through section 6.

Charities: Lobbying

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Bridges of Headley on 25 February (HL6102 and HL6103), whether the Cabinet Office's new rules on grant funding mean that (1) Citizen's Advice, (2) the Territorial Army Rifles Association, (3) the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies, (4) English Heritage, (5) Imperial College, and (6) the Marine Management Organisations, can no longer make representations to them, Parliament or the European Commission, on legislation or policy.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The clause ensures that taxpayers' funds are not diverted away from their intended purpose and wasted on political lobbying. The clause does not stop any grant recipients from campaigning using other sources of funding.

Intelligence Services: Recruitment

Lord Strasburger: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the timetable for the recruitment of the 1,900 additional intelligence personnel announced in November 2015, and what is being done to ensure that the salary package offered attracts sufficiently talented applicants.

Lord Bridges of Headley: 1,900 additional staff across the three intelligence agencies will be recruited over the Spending Review period to 2020. Specific pay and reward details cannot be disclosed for national security reasons however pay and reward packages for staff at the intelligence agencies are under regular review to ensure that what can be offered reflects both the unique challenges the agencies face, and the high level of ability and skill required to meet them.

Ministers' Private Offices

Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many extended ministerial offices have been established, and in which departments; which staff have been recruited to them; and which of those were drawn from outside the civil service.

Lord Bridges of Headley: Extended Ministerial Offices have been established (or are being established) in the Cabinet Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Education, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scotland Office.The government regularly publishes information on the job titles and pay grades of senior civil servants along with the numbers of staff they manage and the budgets they are responsible for. A similar approach will apply to staff in extended ministerial offices.

Government Departments: Newspaper Press

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1) minister, (2) official, or (3) ministerial special adviser, have played any part in the drafting of letters subsequently signed by retired military officers or business people and published in national newspapers in the last year.

Lord Bridges of Headley: In carrying out government business, Ministers, officials and special advisers must abide by their respective Codes of Conduct.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Business: Procurement

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent report by the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute of the University of Sheffield which claims that supply chain audits fail to detect labour and environmental abuses.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 February 2016.The correct answer should have been:

The Government has made no assessment of this report. There is no requirement for any UK business to audit its supply chain or what such an audit should include – this is a matter for individual businesses. UK businesses are, however, required to comply with all applicable laws, including those relating to labour and environmental matters. In addition, company law requires eligible businesses to report on social, environmental and human rights matters where this is necessary for an understanding of their business. The Government has made no assessment of this report. UK businesses are required to comply with all applicable laws, including those relating to labour and environmental matters in the supply chain. In addition, company law requires eligible businesses to report on social, environmental and human rights matters where this is necessary for an understanding of their business.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government has made no assessment of this report. There is no requirement for any UK business to audit its supply chain or what such an audit should include – this is a matter for individual businesses. UK businesses are, however, required to comply with all applicable laws, including those relating to labour and environmental matters. In addition, company law requires eligible businesses to report on social, environmental and human rights matters where this is necessary for an understanding of their business. The Government has made no assessment of this report. UK businesses are required to comply with all applicable laws, including those relating to labour and environmental matters in the supply chain. In addition, company law requires eligible businesses to report on social, environmental and human rights matters where this is necessary for an understanding of their business.

Antisemitism

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reported rise in anti-Semitism in the UK, in particular at universities, and what action they plan to take to tackle anti-Semitism in the light of that assessment.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: There is no place in our society, including higher education, for bigotry, hatred and any form of racism such as anti-Semitism. We expect universities to act swiftly to investigate and address any anti-Semitic incidents reported to them.Responsibility for ensuring students do not face harassment, abuse or violence rests with individual institutions, as a clear part of their duties under the 2010 Equality Act.  The higher education sector is committed to tackling discrimination and challenging intolerance on campus. Bodies such as Universities UK (UUK), Guild HE and the Equality Challenge Unit provide support to institutions to help discharge their responsibilities through the provision of practical guidance, discussion and networking events to help share best practice across the sector. In addition, at the request of the Government, UUK have set up a task force to consider what more can be done to address harassment on campus, including on the basis of religion and belief. The Union of Jewish Students are part of the wider advisory group.

Easter Act 1928

Lord Lisvane: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what their policy is towards the commencement of the Easter Act 1928.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Easter Act 1928 would set the date for Easter to fall on the Sunday that follows the second Saturday in April (i.e. between 9 and 15 April). The Act has not been brought into force. To do so would require an Order in Council, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. The Act requires that, before the Order is made, “regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body." If the Christian churches were to agree on moving to a fixed date for Easter then the Government would consider, depending on what date is agreed, whether to bring into force the Easter Act 1928 or to make such other legislative provision as may be needed.

New Businesses: Students

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to encourage universities to support students who have started, or plan to start, a business venture while at university.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 11 March 2016.The correct answer should have been:

Government’s Start-Up Loans scheme supports people wanting to start a business and has provided over 35,000 loans worth over £200 million. We’re committed to supporting start-ups by cutting taxes on small businesses, extending rate relief and increasing the Employment Allowance. In Cambridge, Government has invested £4.8m in the establishment of the Sir John Bradfield Technology Centre to support business incubation on Cambridge Science Park. This is in addition to a range of other growth-enabling investments made through the £500m Greater Cambridge City Deal, the £109.1m Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Growth Deal and a three year funding package to support development of a local business Growth Hub Government fully supports and actively encourages students who wish to start a business. This commitment was reiterated in the recent grant letter from Ministers to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) where we welcomed the Council’s commitment to: The continued funding and support for the work of National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), which we see as key to promoting enhanced university and business activity. NCUB gathers evidence and brings together university and business leaders, sharing best practice. The NCUB’s work covers all aspects of the interaction between Businesses and Higher Education, including addressing skills shortages, work experience and graduate recruitment. To continue to promote knowledge exchange through the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which is focussed on promoting entrepreneurship and enterprise education, as well as the commercialisation of research.In addition to this, the QAA issued guidance to Higher Education Institutions in 2012 to promote best practice in developing enterprise and entrepreneurship education. According to HESA, support provided by universities led to 4,600 graduate start-ups in 2013-14[1] an increase of 1,100 on the previous year.   [1] HE-BCI (Higher Education – Business Community Interaction) survey

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Government’s Start-Up Loans scheme supports people wanting to start a business and has provided over 35,000 loans worth over £200 million. We’re committed to supporting start-ups by cutting taxes on small businesses, extending rate relief and increasing the Employment Allowance. In Cambridge, Government has invested £4.8m in the establishment of the Sir John Bradfield Technology Centre to support business incubation on Cambridge Science Park. This is in addition to a range of other growth-enabling investments made through the £500m Greater Cambridge City Deal, the £109.1m Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Growth Deal and a three year funding package to support development of a local business Growth Hub Government fully supports and actively encourages students who wish to start a business. This commitment was reiterated in the recent grant letter from Ministers to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) where we welcomed the Council’s commitment to: The continued funding and support for the work of National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), which we see as key to promoting enhanced university and business activity. NCUB gathers evidence and brings together university and business leaders, sharing best practice. The NCUB’s work covers all aspects of the interaction between Businesses and Higher Education, including addressing skills shortages, work experience and graduate recruitment. To continue to promote knowledge exchange through the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which is focussed on promoting entrepreneurship and enterprise education, as well as the commercialisation of research.In addition to this, the QAA issued guidance to Higher Education Institutions in 2012 to promote best practice in developing enterprise and entrepreneurship education. According to HESA, support provided by universities led to 4,600 graduate start-ups in 2013-14[1] an increase of 1,100 on the previous year.   [1] HE-BCI (Higher Education – Business Community Interaction) survey

New Businesses: Cambridge

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to help more businesses in Cambridge in the light of reports that it has the best rates for startup survival.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Government’s Start-Up Loans scheme supports people wanting to start a business and has provided over 35,000 loans worth over £200 million. We’re committed to supporting start-ups by cutting taxes on small businesses, extending rate relief and increasing the Employment Allowance. In Cambridge, Government has invested £4.8m in the establishment of the Sir John Bradfield Technology Centre to support business incubation on Cambridge Science Park. This is in addition to a range of other growth-enabling investments made through the £500m Greater Cambridge City Deal, the £109.1m Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Growth Deal and a three year funding package to support development of a local business Growth Hub

Postgraduate Education

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to raise awareness of the Postgraduate Loans Scheme in 2016–17 and 2017–18.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: The Student Loans Company has produced a suite of information and guidance materials for institutions and prospective students and this is available from SLC’s website, The Student Room and Gov.UK. Additionally, BIS and the SLC are working together with a number of organisations, including Universities UK, to ensure that information and guidance is also disseminated through their own channels. Plans for 2017-18 will be drawn up later this year once the loan has been launched

Postgraduate Education

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much is being spent on promoting the Postgraduate Loans Scheme in 2016–17 and 2017–18.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: The Department is working alongside its delivery partner The Student Loans Company and stakeholders such as Universities UK and Prospects to ensure the correct information and guidance is readily available. The Student Loans Company produces information and guidance materials for institutions and prospective students and expenditure for the financial year 2016-17 is expected to be in the region of £57,000. Budget for 2017-18 has not yet been allocated.

Department for Education

Faith Schools: Admissions

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to limiting the proportion of places that schools can allocate using religious admissions criteria, in line with the cap that currently exists for free schools.

Lord Nash: The Government greatly values the contribution that existing church and faith schools play in our education system, including those of free schools, and we have no plans to change their admission arrangements since they are providing places for the communities they serve. Not all faith schools choose to allocate places by faith. It is for the admission authority of the school to decide whether or not to include faith-based priorities within their oversubscription criteria. When constructing faith-based oversubscription criteria, including deciding how membership or practice of the faith will be determined, admission authorities must have regard to the guidance of their relevant religious authority and their arrangements must comply with the statutory School Admissions Code.

Civil Partnerships

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 10 February (HL5715), whether they now intend to legislate to allow heterosexuals to form civil partnerships, and if not, why not.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Noble Lord wrote to me on this topic previously (HL5715). As I previously said: In 2014, after the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was passed, the government carried out a review of the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, including a thorough public consultation on potential changes to civil partnership. Views were invited on three options: Abolishing, or phasing out civil partnerships; or extending them to opposite sex couples. The review found that there was no clear consensus on the future of civil partnerships. A majority of respondents to the consultation were against extending civil partnerships to opposite sex couples and several important organisations thought it was too soon to consider making changes to civil partnerships until the impact of extending marriage to same sex couples is known. Given the lack of any consensus the Government has no current plans to make changes to the Civil Partnership Act 2004. On 29 January 2016 the High Court dismissed a legal challenge to the lack of availability of civil partnerships to opposite sex couples. The Court ruled unequivocally that the current regime of marriage and civil partnership does not disadvantage anyone nor does it infringe anyone’s right to family or private life. We also welcome the Court’s view that it is entirely reasonable for the Government to wait to see the impact of extending marriage to same sex couples before deciding on the way forward.

Faith Schools: Admissions

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 8 March (HL6382), in how many religiously selective schools the Schools Adjudicator has found admission arrangements that do not comply with the Schools Admissions Code in each of the last three 12 month periods for which information is available; how those numbers compare with all schools for the same periods; and what recommendations the Chief Schools Adjudicator has made to the Department for Education about remedying breaches by religiously selective schools.

Lord Nash: The Department does not hold data about the outcome of objections considered by the Schools Adjudicator in this format.The Chief Schools Adjudicator reports annually to the Secretary of State on fair access. We are giving careful consideration to the findings and recommendations of her report for 2014-15 as part of our current review of the School Admissions Code. This report is attached.We will be conducting a full public consultation in due course.



Schools Adjudicator Annual Report 2014-15
(PDF Document, 758.68 KB)

Secondary Education: Performance Standards

Lord Northbourne: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Department for Education's research brief, Factors associated with achievement: key stage 4, does not make any reference to the family structure in which the child is growing up, and in particular makes no distinction between a child being brought up by both parents living together and a child living in a single-parent family.

Lord Northbourne: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Department for Education's research brief, Factors associated with achievement: key stage 4, does not mention whether they have considered the impact of domestic violence, alcohol addiction, drugs or parental mental health problems on children's lives.

Lord Nash: The aims of the research reported in Factors associated with achievement: key stage 4, were to assess the quality of the current measure of socio-economic deprivation used by the Department for Education and to identify potential alternative proxy indicators for deprivation.The attached research brief and full report examines the relationship between attainment and household employment characteristics, including whether it is a single-parent household, and whether at least one parent was in full-time employment. This model was not included in the research brief because it was not considered a feasible alternative. The background characteristics used in the research were collected as part of the first wave of the Longitudinal Survey of Young People in England (LSYPE), which did not ask questions directly addressing the other factors mentioned. The research was exploratory, but also pragmatic, examining a broad range of measures but also mindful that not all measures would be available to the Department in the future. Measures such as domestic violence, alcohol addiction, drugs or parental mental health problems are not collected by the Department and were therefore not included in this analysis.



Full report - Factors Associated with Achievement
(PDF Document, 1.54 MB)




Research brief
(PDF Document, 113.61 KB)

Pre-school Education: Special Educational Needs

Baroness Garden of Frognal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure that there is adequate funding for children with special educational needs in early years education.

Lord Nash: We have already announced over £1bn funding for the early years entitlements within the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant by 2019-20, which includes £300m to uplift the funding rate to providers. We are also providing protection for high needs funding that will ensure that the level of funding rises in proportion to the number of children, including those under 5. This will mean that local authorities continue to have the flexibility to target funding where it is most needed to help children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, including the youngest children. Further consideration will be given to funding for children with special educational needs in early years education as part of our consultation later this year. Local authorities are required by law to secure free entitlement places for parents that want their child to take them up. The Government is committed to ensuring that all families have access to high quality, flexible and affordable childcare and parents with children with special educational needs should have the same opportunities as other parents through access to high quality childcare. The Children and Families Act requires local authorities to have a ‘local offer’ which includes a statement on how they intend to tailor the childcare on offer for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Early implementation of 30 hours from September 2016 provides a real opportunity to develop innovative approaches to providing flexible childcare for working parents whose children are disabled or have special educational needs. Through Early Implementation, York, Northumberland, Newham and Wigan are among 8 Local Authorities delivering the 30 hours entitlement from September 2016, a year earlier than planned. This will include delivering targeted places focusing on children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. They will also be supported by Early Implementer Innovator areas including Brighton and Hove, Hampshire and Trafford, who will test the offer and how it works under specific circumstances, including developing approaches to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Children: Day Care

Baroness Garden of Frognal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure that adequate ring-fenced funding is provided to local authorities to enable them successfully to deliver the Government’s childcare provision targets.

Lord Nash: We have already announced over £1bn funding for the early years entitlements within the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant by 2019-20, which includes £300m to uplift the funding rate to providers. The increase to the funding rate is based on robust evidence from the Review of the Cost of Childcare. We have made clear our commitment to maximise the amount of this funding which reaches front line childcare providers, and will consult on proposals for achieving this as part of our consultation on early years funding reform later this year.

Children's Play

Baroness Garden of Frognal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the value of strategic local approaches to play, and the case for local authorities to submit regional play strategies to them for review.

Lord Nash: I refer my Noble Lady to the answer given on 8 March to PQ 29737, which I have also set out below:The Department for Education recognises that play has an important role in supporting all young children to develop and prepare for later learning. Play is covered in the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework which states: “Each area of learning and development must be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity.” The staff working in early years settings as Early Years Educators (level 3) and Early Years Teachers (graduates) are required to have an understanding different pedagogical approaches, including the role of play in supporting early learning and development. The criteria for the Early Years Educator and standards for Early Years Teacher Status qualifications are set by the department. Ofsted registers childcare provision on the Early Years Register and the General Childcare Register and conducts a regular cycle of inspection to ensure that provision meets the required quality and safety standards. In judging the quality and standards of early years provision, Ofsted inspectors must assess the extent to which the learning and care provided by the setting meets the needs of the range of children who attend, including the needs of any children who have special educational needs or disabilities. At August 2015, 85 per cent of providers on the Early Years Register were rated good or outstanding for overall effectiveness. This is an increase of 11 percentage points since 2012. Local Authorities provide and offer Continuous Professional Development and training to early years settings; some of which may include training on play. However, it is not a requirement for local authorities to deliver regional play training as it is already a requirement in the Early Years Foundation Stage to cover play in a setting.

The Lord Chairman of Committees

Roads: City of Westminster

Lord Trefgarne: To ask the Chairman of Committees what assessment he has made of the progress made in respect of the roadworks underway in Bridge Street at the northern end of Westminster Bridge, and when he expects those works to be completed.

Lord Laming: The work on Bridge Street, Westminster Bridge and Victoria Embankment is due to be completed by the end of this month; remaining works around Parliament Square should be completed by the end of April as planned. There have been detailed and helpful discussions, and ongoing liaison, between the Administrations of both Houses and Transport for London about the scheduling of the work in order to ensure that the plans for the cycle superhighway disrupt access to Parliament as little as possible. Since the works began, there have been no reports that they have adversely affected or disrupted the business of Parliament. Parliament has shared information about these works on the intranet.

Department for Work and Pensions

National Insurance

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications for National Insurance numbers were outstanding on 31 December in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Lord Freud: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

National Insurance

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many National Insurance numbers were issued to non-residents in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Lord Freud: In order to be allocated a NINo via the DWP Adult NINo Allocation process an individual must be resident in the UK at the time of application. However, a very small proportion of NINos are allocated by the International Pension Centre to those who are resident abroad for the purposes of Social Security Benefit administration. These figures are not included in the published statistics National Insurance Number Allocations to Adult Overseas Nationals entering the UK. NINos Issued to non-UK residents 2013-20145,3902014-20154,1502015 -16*3,830Figures are only available from 2013 and are rounded. *is to end of February 2016.

Home Office

Refugees

Baroness Berridge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the ongoing problems faced by the Yazidi community and children affected by the conflict in Iraq and Syria, they will reassess the criteria for eligibility for the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme and other UK resettlement schemes.

Lord Bates: Under the current scheme, only UNHCR registered Syrian refugees are eligible under the Syrian Resettlement Scheme, which has been expanded to resettle up to 20,000 during this Parliament. We work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify cases that they deem in need of resettlement according to seven agreed vulnerability criteria for the Syrian Resettlement Scheme.The Syrian Resettlement Scheme is operated in addition to our global resettlement schemes: Gateway and Mandate, which are not nationality specific.

Slavery: Children

Baroness Doocey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children who have received a positive conclusive grounds decision in the National Referral Mechanism in the past three years have been refused asylum after claiming.

Lord Bates: Since January 2013, three (3) children received an initial decision to refuse asylum having previously received a positive Conclusive Grounds decision. Of these three refusals two (2) were subsequently overturned on appeal.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define the "best interests of the child" under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Lord Bates: Consistent with Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, we define the “best interests of the child” as those factors which contribute to a child’s well-being and which are to be considered in light of the evidence as a primary consideration alongside other factors in making immigration decisions and carrying out immigration functions.These include, but are not limited to, taking account of the child’s health, age and maturity, and the child’s family and social relationships. We remain committed to giving due consideration to the Articles in the Convention when developing policy and legislation.

Visas: Turkey

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what circumstances the UK would be able to opt out of implementing the agreement contained in the statement of the Heads of State or Government of the EU issued on 7 March to "accelerate the implementation of the visa liberalisation roadmap with all member states with a view to lifting the visa requirements of Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016".

Lord Bates: The UK Government cannot be obliged by the EU to lift visa requirements. Visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens as referred to in the Statement of 7 March is in respect of the Schengen area only. In accordance with the Schengen Protocol (No.19), the UK does not participate in the Schengen acquis concerning visas. The UK is free to request to participate in some or all of the provisions of the Schengen acquis which it does not already participate in, but is explicitly not obliged to do so. Nor is the UK bound by any Justice and Home Affairs measures in the area of EU visa policy unless the UK explicitly chooses to opt in, in accordance with the UK and Ireland’s JHA Protocol (No 21).

Borders: Personal Records

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of passengers departing overseas from each British (1) airport, (2) port, or (3) railway station, are currently having their passports checked by Border Force officers, and when they expect to reach 100 per cent checking for each departure point.

Lord Bates: Exit checks have been in place since April 2015 across all scheduled commercial services departing the UK from air and sea ports and from international rail stations, except those services not within scope such as, for example, journeys within the Common Travel Area. Departure data is collected by carriers and port operators and transmitted to Home Office systems, where work takes place to match it to arrival data, visa conditions and other information as appropriate.Exit checks are not conducted by Border Force officers; however Border Force officers do from time to time carry out intelligence led operations and interventions which are not part of the exit checks procedures.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many valid British passports are currently held, and how many of those passport holders also hold passports of another state.

Lord Bates: There are 49 million valid UK passports in circulation. Records are not held centrally of persons holding both a UK passport and foreign passport.

Aegean Sea: Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Prime Minister, on 7 March in Brussels, described those fleeing across the Aegean Sea as illegally crossing, in the light of the fact that Turkey is not a party to the UN Convention on Refugees, which Greece and other EU member states are.

Lord Bates: Migrants travelling across the Aegean Sea may be referred to as illegally crossing if they have no permission (such as a visa) to enter Greece or another Member State. The same would apply if someone applied for asylum in the UK: if they have entered the UK illegally, then they would be treated as an illegal entrant, irrespective of whether they make a claim for asylum or not.

Northern Ireland Office

Belfast Agreement

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Dunlop on 23 February (HL5589 and HL5590) concerning the Belfast Agreement 1998, why they have not answered the question, and whether the Agreement applies to all residents of the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 28 January (HL5591) concerning the Belfast Agreement 1998, why they have not answered the question, and whether the Belfast Agreement applies to members of the British Security Forces.

Lord Dunlop: My previous replies to the Noble Lord on questions about the application of the Belfast Agreement to specific groups explain that the Agreement, with its three-stranded approach, paved the way for power sharing in Northern Ireland and provides the basis for devolved government there. The three-stranded approach is: Strand 1 concerns the status and system of government of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom. This provides for the creation of a democratically elected Northern Ireland Assembly. Strand 2 concerns the relationship between Northern Ireland and Ireland. This provides for the creation of a North /South Ministerial Council. Strand 3 concerns the relationship between the Ireland and the United Kingdom. This provides for the creation of a British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

Proscribed Organisations

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of persons involved in each of the following proscribed terrorist organisations: (1) Continuity Army Council; (2) Cumann na mBan; (3) Fianna na hEireann; (4) Irish National Liberation Army; (5) Irish People’s Liberation Organisation; (6) Irish Republican Army; (7) Loyalist Volunteer Force; (8) Orange Volunteers; (9) Red Hand Commando; (10) Red Hand Defenders; (11) Saor Eire; (12) Ulster Defence Association; (13) Ulster Freedom Fighters; and (14) Ulster Volunteer Force.

Lord Dunlop: It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the number of people involved in these organisations. Involvement and support for illegal proscribed organisations can take many different forms and the true extent of involvement is often hidden. Statistics on charges brought in relation to support for paramilitary organisations can be found in Northern Ireland Terrorism Legislation: Annual Statistics 2014/15, Table 9 on the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465088/Terrorism_Bulletin_2014-2015.PDF The relevant information is also shown below for ease of reference:Table: Charges brought against persons detained in Northern Ireland under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000  Number of ChargesOffence19 Feb 2001-Mar 2013/14April-Sept 2014/15Oct-Mar 2014/152014-15 TotalSupporting a proscribed Organisation21000Making contributions to a proscribed organisation47000Dressing as a member of a proscribed organisation10000 Source: Police Service of Northern Ireland

Department of Health

NHS: Employment Agencies

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of (1) how many health professionals will return to permanent NHS jobs as a result of price caps on agency staff spending, and (2) how many nurses will leave nursing as a result of those caps.

Lord Prior of Brampton: No formal assessment has been made by the Department to estimate the specific numbers of health professionals that will return to permanent National Health Service jobs as a result of the introduction of price caps on agency staff spending, or on the number of nurses that may leave nursing as a result. Trust boards have primary responsibility for monitoring the local impact of the price caps and ensuring patient safety.

NHS: Employment Agencies

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether NHS trusts can breach price caps on agency spending if they consider that it is essential to do so in order to ensure patient safety.

Lord Prior of Brampton: NHS trusts are able to override the price caps on agency spending if it is considered essential to do so to ensure the safety of patients. The circumstances in which trusts can override the caps is set out in the attached guidance: ‘Price Caps for Agency Staff: Rules’.



Price Cap Rules
(PDF Document, 352.91 KB)